• clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  poems

    Touch My Soul

    September 12, 2024

    Let love lead your soul
    make it a place to retire to,
    a kind of cave, a retreat
    for the deep core of being.

    Rumi

    The leaves have been changing colors the past couple weeks around my condo. One tree has dropped most of its leaves. However, the greens are vibrant at Spring Creek Park with lush foliage in the trees and a well manicured lawn. I plopped myself on one of the park benches and watched the clouds continuously reshape themselves. Even though these clouds provided rain in the mountains, we did not get any. But, even without the rain, one of their tasks was to touch my soul.

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  Rumi,  sunrises

    Listen to Silence

    August 15, 2024

    Listen to silence, it has much to say.

    Rumi

    Good morning from Colorado! I woke up early and got out of bed about 4:00 am. I had a nice, quiet meditation then enjoyed more quiet and prayer, waiting for the sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area. A cool breeze began to stir among the brush and grasses. There was an orange glow among the few clouds in the eastern sky. I listened to the silence! May you listen to the silence!.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  moon,  quotes

    Glad I noticed.

    March 18, 2024

    It was 3:39 am and my churning mind was not letting me sleep. Thankfully, I don’t do that very often. However, this time I grabbed my phone and started to dictate some of those churning thoughts. I don’t do that very often, either. I giggled to myself as I wondered if those words would make any sense in the morning. They didn’t. Anyway…

    “Put your thoughts to sleep, do not let them cast a shadow over the moon of your heart. Let go of thinking.”

    Rumi

    A few weeks ago I drove out east with my focus on the clouds (you can call it another cloud spell). I setup my camera and tripod and had taken a half dozen images before I realized that the moon was subtlety hidden among those clouds. I totally missed it. I laughed at myself as I realized I was too busy thinking about getting an image rather than letting the image present itself to me. Guess I need to be more open. Glad I noticed! Hope you enjoy your Monday!

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  • poems,  poetry,  seasons,  shadows,  snow,  winter scenes

    The Source Within

    February 13, 2024

    Everything you see has its roots
    In the unseen world.
    The forms may change
    Yet the essence remains the same.
    Every wondrous site will vanish,
    Every sweet word will fade,
    But do not be disheartened,
    The Source they come from is Eternal,
    Growing, branching out,
    Giving new life and new joy.
    Why do you weep?
    That source is within you
    And this whole world
    Is springing up from it.

    Rumi
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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    Morning Sunrise

    December 7, 2023

    “Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.”

    Rumi

    This is a five image panorama from this mornings sunrise over Dixon Reservoir. It’s not the best but it does offer a sense of the majesty of the predawn gift. We had another beautiful day of sunshine and warmth before we see colder temperatures and snow arriving tomorrow evening. Hoping you had a wonderful day.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes,  sunsets

    We are not bad peanuts!

    December 12, 2022

    I belong to no religión. My religion is love. Every heart is my temple.

    Rumi

    At this point in my life I do not believe anyone is a bad person at the center of who they are. Although that could be true of peanut M&Ms, I don’t believe it’s true of humanity. Some will disagree. There are many who believe the lie that we are born bad and then live a life based on that belief, never coming to the full potential and the gift we are to the world.

    God who created man out of love also calls him to love–the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love. 

    Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1604

    I’ve read where we are created out of love to be love and that statement resonates at the center of who I am and continues to resonate. Maybe it’s the optimist in me, the romantic in me or my hope for humanity. But, I also believe in it because it gives me hope that all people can be transformed and become who they were really created to be; loving, compassionate, kind. This world needs love, lots of it, and it is our task to be that love. We are not bad peanuts coated in chocolate!

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  • moon,  Rumi,  shadows,  street photography

    A perfect day for reading

    November 10, 2022
    Full moon at the bus stop on my way to the coffee shop

    “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

    Rumi

    It’s been cold, windy and gusty today. The sun has peaked in and out of a cloudy blue/gray sky. And, when the sun does break through everything lights up, glowing brilliantly. I found it to be a perfect day for reading. I’ve gained enough wisdom to know I’m unable to change the world or the people in it but I’m only able to change how I interact with the world and the people in it, which is far more important. It also follows that when I change, the world is changed in some small way.

    Those who are dealing with the power of Nicole please be safe.

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